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Transcript of 1. 2 Thank you Research Scholarship Money was very appreciated and used wisely! Timeline for...
1
PERCEPTIONS OF ILLINOIS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS ON THE
IMPACT OF THE U.S. ECONOMIC RECESSION AND
STATE FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
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PRESENTEDTO THE
ILLINOIS COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING HIGHER
EDUCATIONON
FEBRUARY 10, 2012BY
DR. BARRY HANCOCK
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Thank you Research Scholarship Money was very appreciated
and used wisely! Timeline for Presentation Study brought continuing education into spotlight Will be presenting similar scholarship proposal to
Illinois Council for Community College Administrators
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Chapter 1Introduction and Nature of the
Study The U.S. Economic Recession Financial Pressures & Higher Education Illinois Financial Challenges Community Colleges & their Adult &
Continuing Education Programs
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Problem Statement CE Programs need to be examined-state
fiscal problems, recession, institutional prioritization
Baby Boomers, more CE for state workforce
How are community college leaders positioning their continuing education programs in order to better serve their districts/communities?
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Purpose of the Study
To better understand how Illinois community college continuing education programs are delivered & how they assist their institutions to fulfill the needs of their district residents.
To examine the perceptions of administrators with respect to the future of continuing education in the face of increasing financial pressures.
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Research Questions
with respect to the impact of financial pressures affecting the future of continuing education departments?
with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of administration & delivery of continuing education?
What are perceptions of administrators:
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with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of programs in continuing education?
with respect to whether there were significant differences between respondents position, location & type of college & their perceptions of fiscal, administrative & programmatic issues affecting the future of continuing education departments?
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Significance of the Study
Taxpayers support community colleges & expect relevant & quality programs/courses
More students, less state funding More research needed on continuing education
Depts. Increasing number of adults wanting classes People are living longer More continuing education required for state
workforce One of five main criteria for NCA
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Limitations/Delimitations
Size of institution may effect administrators views on continuing education
Administrators experience in system may effect views on continuing education
Some administrators may have been reluctant to respond
Study only done in Illinois
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CHAPTER 2REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The Community College Movement Joins Higher Education
Illinois Community Colleges Play a Substantial Role in Higher Education
Adult Learning & Its Relevance to Continuing Education
The Inclusion of Continuing Education in the Community Colleges
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Continuing Education: It’s History & Mission in Illinois Community Colleges
Current Issues Effecting Illinois Continuing Education Programs
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CHAPTER 3RESEARCH PROCEDURES
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Research Design
(Quantitative) Descriptive survey (Qualitative) Interviews
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Subjects
Surveyed all 48 community college presidents & continuing education program managers
Interviewed three presidents & three continuing education program managers
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Instrumentation Self report survey on Survey Monkey Jury of experts Pilot test Approval from SIU Human Subjects
Dept.
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Data Collection Procedures
Cover letter & survey went out electronically via Survey Monkey
Had Support community college leaders-Presidents Council, ICCET, ICCEDA, ICCHE
Conducted interviews with administrators
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Treatment of the Data
Percentages, frequencies, means Recorded comments from interviews-
recordings available Figures, Tables and interview responses Chi Square & cross tabulations
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FindingsResearch Question 1
What were the perceptions of Illinois community college administrators with respect to the impact of financial pressures affecting the future of continuing
education departments? Most institutions allocate funds to the CE
dept. using internal budgeting process Respondents said budgets decreasing Many respondents have seen decreases in
their enrollments Many respondents indicated seeing
enrollment increases
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22% of presidents & 36% of the CEPMs have had to lay off employees
1/3 of respondents have reduced the number of course offerings at their institutions
Respondents said their colleges offered courses which don’t meet profit expectations
Tuition & fees, state grants & state appropriations are primary sources of revenue for CE programs
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Most respondents felt their institutions provided adequate financial support
44% of presidents & 30% of CEPMs felt the number of course offerings at their institutions were adversely affected by the state funding changes in the 1990s
20% of respondents indicated state funding is adequate
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Approx. 1/3 of respondents didn’t feel fiscal pressures caused staff or programs to be reduced or eliminated
Most respondents indicated that only 1-10% of their institutions budget went to the CE unit
Several respondents indicated they didn’t have a senior citizens waiver policy
Non-credit CE programs are often the first to go during difficult times
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Research Question 2What were the perceptions of Illinois
community college administrators with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future of administration and delivery of continuing education?
Respondents disagreed that their CE dept. has adequate classroom space available
Respondents were in agreement their CE units have adequate office space
Respondents were in agreement CE functions are adequately staffed with administrators
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43% of CEPMs & 28% of presidents felt there CE depts. were inadequately staffed with support personnel
Approx. ¼ of respondents don’t feel their CE depts. are prepared for the baby-boomer generation
Interview data indicated that staff are not being let go, but words i.e. . . merging & streamlining resources, focusing on vital services were heard often
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Research Question 3What were the perceptions of Illinois
community college administrators with respect to the financial pressures affecting the future
of programs in continuing education?
48% of presidents & 33% of CEPMs indicated they have seen increases in students taking non-credit classes & programs
CE depts. are made up primarily of non-credit, vocational skills, workforce & corporate education classes
ACT Centers, GED/ABE/ASE programs, Welfare-to-Work programs & Illinois Worknet Centers are least likely to be found in CE depts.
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CE programs are designed to meet the needs of the community which are not being met by other parts of the college or the community
Increases in enrollment were attributed primarily to the senior citizen population (primarily the baby-boomers)
Enrollment decreases attributed to staff leaving & responsibilities being consolidated, not as many non-credit courses being offered & people don’t have as much discretionary money available
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Partnerships & online learning were seen as challenges to CE programming
More of an emphasis now on vocational skills classes which generate credit hours & CEUs
Board of trustee members do not always look favorably on non-credit classes during difficult economic times
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Research Question 4: Were there significant differences
between respondents position, location and type of college and their perceptions regarding
the fiscal, administrative and programmatic issues affecting the future of continuing
education departments?
A statistically significant difference was found between the respondents:
position & whether they agreed continuing education departments receive adequate classroom space
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location (suburban, rural, urban) & whether their institution is adequately prepared to address the influx of students from the baby-boomer generation
(by type of college-single or multi campus, multi-district) & whether their institutions CE department is adequately staffed with administrators
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Conclusions Courses which don’t meet profit
expectations should continue to be offered Since primary funding sources are
unreliable, might pursue secondary, grant sources
CE budgets reduced, ½ say enrollment increasing & streamlining resources
Majority of colleges allocate 1-10% of budget to CE depts., yet approx. 35% of states students enrolled in CE depts.
Difficulty obtaining best CEPM for study
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Conclusions Statistically significant difference (by location) between
respondents with respect to preparations for baby-boomers-rural colleges less prepared
Survey showed many colleges don’t offer waivers for senior citizens
About 20% of respondents not sure if CE in institution mission statement
Data showed trustees don’t have a good understanding of CE programs & 75% of presidents don’t have CE background
Statistically significant difference between respondents with respect to adequacy of classroom space for CE programs
Without additional state resources, additional emphasis on CE programs is unlikely
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Recommendations-General
State associations use as guide to clarify role of CE Identify & pursue secondary sources of funding Allocate more institutional dollars to CE programs Increase eligibility for senior waivers to 65 years
old College employees need to know their institutions
mission statement Study should be distributed statewide ICCB should assist colleges in determining if
classes credit or non-credit
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Recommendations for Presidents
Need to communicate the value of continuing education with their trustees
Should list CEPMs in the ICCCA Directory
Should see that efforts are made to expand programs for senior citizens
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Recommendations for CEPMs
Need to communicate better with presidents & communities
Package & advertise encore classes for seniors
Form more partnerships with local agencies, organizations & with online providers
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Recommendations for further research
Conduct survey with stakeholders in the state
Only focus on non-credit or credit part of CE dept
See if statistical significance on some of other survey questions
Get a better selection of CEPMs Examine data from the location of the
college in more detail
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Dissertation is available at:
http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/381/
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Questions?
PRESENTATION BY
DR. BARRY HANCOCK, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE